Our program offers the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) degree with a major in Special Education K-12. The program is designed to ensure candidates will gain expertise in the area of special education including foundations, development and characteristics of learners, individual learning differences, instructional strategies and planning, learning environments, guidance and behavior management, communication, working with families, assessment, and professional and ethical practice. Recognizing the changing and complex role of the special education teacher, the performance based undergraduate program prepares the candidates to (1) provide support and instruction to students with cognitive, communication, physical, behavior, multiple, and/or health disabilities from kindergarten through 12th grade, (2) work in different educational settings such as self-contained, resource, and regular classrooms, (3) access the general education curriculum demonstrating a strong knowledge and skill set in academic content areas, and (4) effectively collaborate and work closely with general education teachers, related service personnel, administrators, and families to ensure all students are given every opportunity to reach their full potential.
The degree requires the successful completion of 122 hours including: (1) UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated Early Childhood and Special Education courses. HIST 2301 or 2302, MATH 1390, PHYS 1400 and PSCI 1330 should be selected within the lower-division core because these courses fulfill both UCA Core requirements and program requirements; (2) professional education courses; (3) academic content courses; (4) and related requirements. The special education major must also complete early field experiences, as well as field requirements in Junior Block, and Internship IA and IB Blocks. Candidates who successfully complete this program, the state required licensure exams (PRAXIS II) and background checks will be eligible to seek an initial AR teacher’s license in K-12 Special Education. For additional information on the K-12 Special Education program of study and program requirements, refer to the K-12 Special Education Checklist link below.
Following admission into teacher education, candidates in the K-12 Special Education program are assigned academic advisors in the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education. For information on advisor ID assignments, see the link below.
While we welcome any out of state candidates, completion of any program, other than an initial licensure program, may not lead to licensure or endorsement in Arkansas or in the state in which you reside. It is your responsibility to check with your state’s department of education to determine if the license or endorsement requirements are met through the program of study. If you are a potential out of state candidate, please contact the program coordinator directly.
| BSE Special Education K12: | Program Coordinator: | Advisors: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mashburn 150 | Mrs. Dee Dee Cain | Aniaya Henderson | |
| University of Central Arkansas | Phone: 501.450.3605 | Christina Wolfe | |
| 201 Donaghey Ave | deedeec@uca.edu | ||
| Conway, AR 72035 |
